Three years ago I became part of a different kind of family, a gang. It sounds foreign and dangerous when you hear someone say gang but doesn't anything unknown to you sound that way? How do you know something is dangerous unless you've found out for yourself? Well I figured out for myself.

The very next day I met my new family. Kamatari was the only member to actually talk and get along with me. All the other members weren't too eager just yet; after all I was only a fourteen-year old girl. Aoshi seldom spoke to, not just me, but at all. There was something sinister about him but I knew he wasn't evil. It wasn't so much sinister as it was merciless. He was impassive and unemotional, everything about him was business.

That same day I began training. I was taught everything, and it was not easy. I was taught how to fight in order to survive, by learning to defend, combat, handle weapons, and retreat. I hate holding guns, I could hold perfectly right but I trembled when I thought about shooting another human. This training was brutal and harsh. Kamatari was my instructor but he explained he couldn't be merciless; he had to act like any other offender. He was no easy opponent. His skill was much greater than my own. I wasn't a complete pushover, I was able to hit him but it was obvious my hits were much weaker. He lashed out ruthlessly; when I was hit down he didn't hesitate to strike again. I had to force my aching body to rise and back away before I could be struck again. The first night was terrible. It was great that the gang actually boarded together at an old apartment but the training had fatigued and hurt my body. I had bruises and scrapes everywhere. I practically limped to my bed. It was so nice to have a bed I had to admit, it wasn't super comfortable and big, just an average mattress with a sheet but it wasn't a hollow under a flight of stairs or a corner beside a dumpster. I fell asleep quickly from exhaustion. When I woke it was from someone speaking outside the door. Any little sound easily awoke me as I had never been comfortable sleeping when I heard anything. I recognized the voices as Aoshi and Kamatari. Aoshi had the firm belief I wouldn't be able to handle the atmosphere and would either die or run away. However, Kamatari defended me and said he saw so much potential in me. I heard Aoshi mutter potential wouldn't save me from the shot of a pistol before I heard his footsteps retreat. When the conversation ended, Kamatari entered while I feigned sleeping and he went to bed. I was restless and awake for some of the night thinking about what had been said. I wanted to prove myself, no, I was going to prove myself, I thought that time. Determined to do so I relaxed and fell fast asleep, ready to wake and begin training again.

The next morning I was awake by four o' clock. I began training immediately even though Kamatari was sore about the time. He was not a morning person. I was put through a series of rigorous workouts and trials. It was odd. I had never really talk to anyone in so long so that when I was told directions from Kamatari to do something it was just so unusual. I wasn't used to this life. Somehow though I got used to it, I began to like it.

Besides the family-like feeling I had with my new gang there were also darker sides of it. I never got involved with it until I was sixteen. In two years I had excelled myself to be strong enough to fight any member in the gang with the exception of a few members, Kamatari and Aoshi included. Speaking of Aoshi he had started treating me like I belonged. I proved myself when I could defend myself against the last gang raid. It was close though. I traced my hand along my side where a knife had been stabbed. I was lucky for the weak blow otherwise it wouldn't have been shallow; it would've been a deep fatal wound.

The gang survived by sneaking into underhanded dealings. No they weren't involved with them. They stole from them. Despite my promise I wasn't against it. We weren't stealing possessions. We stole information. It was easy to blend in then slip away and find files and media with private information. I convinced myself it wasn't completely wrong after all I wasn't taking from anyone who wasn't unjust or cruel. Of our gang I was especially crafty. After all who would suspect a young girl? Answer, nobody. I never got caught though I did get in tough situations. I may not get in trouble for being suspicious but the fact that I was a young attractive woman got me the wrong attention. It was Kamatari who always ended up interfering. I am young but I am not naïve I know the minds of men all too well. I've learned to read their thoughts by reading their expressions.

The raids, the fights are only parts of the gang not even the great parts. The best part in my opinion is the competition between members. We don't fight, we dance. It is interesting. It is unbelievable. It's amazing. We don't cha-cha or salsa or anything like that we dance freely and through our own imagination. The things these people, my family, could do with their limbs is wonderful. I love doing it, too. I tried to put my fighting techniques into the way I moved and everyone was amazed. I was amazed at myself. It is fun. I never feel so alive when I'm dancing. Even Aoshi admits some times that I have exceptional movement. When Aoshi compliments someone it really means a lot.

"Hey Kaoru?" Kamatari interrupted my thoughts. "Your eyes are losing focus. You aren't going to pass out on me again are you?"

I scowled. "Can't I space out while we walk without being accused of being drunk?"

Kamatari laughed. "Just making sure I don't have to drag you home again yelling at me ridiculously."

Despite my annoyance I laughed, too. I could only imagine what I had out Kamatari through that night.

"Kaoru!" someone with a childish voice yelled.

I turned around. "Yahiko!" I called back. My anxiety of the thought of him being beaten on the way melted. I watched as he ran over. He was getting much taller almost my height. His dark black hair stood in spikes and his brown eyes were bright. I could see the young muscles moving in his arms and legs as he came closer. God he was growing up so fast.

Yahiko had been an orphan like me. He was a pick-pocket. One day when I was fifteen I had been walking home one night I heard something around the street. The kid was being practically beaten to death by a bunch of men. I raced in and successfully rescued the kid, not with injuries though. The last man had pulled out a knife and caught me in the arm. It wasn't too bad of a cut but I had to drag Yahiko back with my other arm though. Kamatari helped me treat his wounds and through my own persuading Yahiko became part of the family. I was responsible for his training and care just as Kamatari was for me. However, the relationship between me and Yahiko was much different then mine and Kamatari's though I wouldn't admit it aloud. I felt tenderness for the boy like no one else. Two years with the boy had grown on me and I was starting to feel like his mother.

We reached the old skate park before I realized it. Other members were already there and I hoped we weren't late since I could not take another lecture fro Aoshi. For a guy who didn't talk a lot his lectures were long-winded scoldings usually addressed to me. I searched around quickly spotting Aoshi beside the ramp. Just then he leveled my gaze with his. He wasn't glaring or scowling so I figured I was off the hook. He turned his sight to Kamatari right beside me and raised an eyebrow. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Kamatari shake his head. Aoshi's eyes widened slightly. The most shock I've ever seen on his face.

'They're silently talking by me! What are they hiding?' I thought to myself.

Aoshi cleared his throat. Everyone in the area immediately stopped speaking. The park was dead with silence.

"I have an important report to announce." Aoshi began.

'Get on with it ice-man!'

As if hearing my thoughts Aoshi looked right at me. "It is concerning our allied gang. Last week their hideout caught fire and burned to the ground. All of the members made it out safely. Investigation of the area revealed it was not accidental." Aoshi said gravely.

I silently swallowed the lump in my throat.

"The arson was set with the intention of killing. We don't have any proof to prove who the arsonist was but they will be found and dealt with severely." Aoshi said but the usual monotony of his voice had vanished whether he knew it or not.

"Until then our residence will accommodate our brother gang. I will ask those who have room to host guests. Understood?" Aoshi called. Everyone numbly nodded, including me.

'What another gang is coming here?'

Aoshi's scowl disappeared replaced with a slight stoic face that had a trace of a smile. Did he know these people personally? "Let me introduce our brother gang's leader…"

From the skate tunnel emerged a group of people. I noticed a tall one drabbed in white; his shirt spread open revealing his muscled chest, a red headband wrapped around his brown spiky hair. Another next to him was a woman, with log black hair, a perfect face and body, carrying a chest. Beside her was another man. He was tall, lanky but he had shaped muscles in his thin arms. His black hair was smoothed back and only short bangs covered his threatening yellow eyes. His mouth in a scowl had a cigarette poking out of it. He took a drag and if possible scowled further.

"Everyone I introduce Kenshin Himura." Aoshi shouted.

I watched as a man dressed in black stepped forward. He wore black combat pants and a white shirt underneath a black jacket which moved swiftly with his body. The way he walked show how much control and muscle he had. His skin was an olive-tan, really light but not ivory-white like my own skin. His long hair was the color of flames pulled back with an elastic. His face was sharp but handsome and his eyes were the color of molten gold. His perfect lips smirked before moving to speak. His silky voice sounded deep and mysterious. I was drawn in.

"Call me Kenshin."